Hand bag



H. D. GIHON, 3D

April 3, 1934.

, HAND BAG Filed March 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND BAG Application March 1, 1933, Serial No. 659,079

3 Claims. (01. 190-48) This invention relates to luggage and pertains more particularly to handbags of the limp nonrigid type having an opening adapted to be closed by a slide fastener. Such bags, as ordinarily constructed, are somewhat difficult to pack due to the fact that the edgesof the opening of the bag tend to come together, so that it is necessary to hold the bag open with one hand while inserting articles with the other.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction such that the opening of the bag may be caused to stand open when desired, and it is a further object to accomplish this purpose without using any rigid frame or other material which would add weight to the bag.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bag.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bag in open position.

\ Figure 3 is a plan view of one-half of the gusset prior to incorporation in the bag.

Referring to the drawings, the bag comprises a pair of side members 1 and 2, a bottom member (not shown) and a gusset 3, the said members being secured together in any suitable manner, as by stitching. The gusset is preferably formed in two matching halves, one of which is illustrated in Figure 3, and each half is preferably formed in three separate pieces designated as A, B and C, secured together as by stitching.

Referring to Figure 3, illustrating in plan onehalf of the gusset 3, it will be observed that the material isso formed as to provide a wide V-' shaped opening 4 between the edges 5 and 6 40 along which the interlocking members 7 and 8 of the slide fastener are secured.

when the gusset is secured to the side and bottom members in the usual manner, and when the slide fastener is operated to bring the edges 5 and 6 together, a somewhat conical shaped protuberance appears at each end of the bag as illustrated in Figure 1, but when the slide fastener is opened, the said protuberances tend to flatten out, and a if the handles 9 are pulled transversely so as to open the bag, this tendency causes the bag to stand open as illustrated n Figure 2, and to remain open until intentionally closed.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A handbag comprising a pair of side members, a bottom member, and a gusset connected to said side and bottom members and forming the top and ends of said bag, said gusset having an opening such that when said gusset is laid flat, said opening is substantially V-shaped at each end, and interlocking members of a slide fastener secured to the edges of said opening, whereby, when said opening is closed by said fastener, said gusset is distorted from its normal shape to a substantial cone shape, and when said fastener is opened, said gusset tends to resume its normal shape so as to cause the bag to stand open.

2. A gusset for a handbag comprising two matching halves, each half, when laid flat, being provided with a V-shaped opening having diverging edges, which, when brought together in closing the bag, cause the gusset to assume a substantial cone shape at each end, and which when released in opening the bag tend to spread apart to cause the bag to stand open.

3. A gusset for a handbag comprising two matching halves, each half being formedof three pieces, two of the pieces being secured to said third piece, but separated from each other by a V-shaped opening, and interlocking members of a slide fastener secured to the edges of said opening which form the V.

HARRY D. GIHON, 3m).

55 iii) 

